Muscle injuries, such as pulled muscles and muscle spasms, can be both painful and limiting. I know this all too well after my 4th of July weekend. My husband and I took our boat out to bring the kids to watch some local fireworks shows in our neighborhood. I guess I didn’t have my sea legs because while holding my daughter I slipped right on my butt during our ride. As if the embarrassment of the fall wasn’t enough, I had another horrible feeling as I sat there with her giggling at me on my lap, a sharp pain in my back. I had no idea what had happened. Did I hit something? Bruise something? I had no idea. I tried to ignore it throughout the holiday, but the pain never subsided. A few days later while unloading groceries from my jeep, I felt an even sharper pain in that same place, this time almost debilitating like I was being stabbed. That’s when I knew it was muscular, and I was having a spasm. As my husband and kids mocked me for “being an old woman and throwing out my back,” we headed to urgent care. Sure enough the Doctor told me I had most likely pulled a muscle, and it became inflamed as my body responded to the injury causing muscle spasms. He touched my back and said it was extremely tight and even distorted where I described my pain. All he could do for me was prescribe me some muscle relaxers, which I can’t take during the day and be as productive as I need to be. It finally dawned on me that I needed to get over to SOL SPA and hop in the infrared sauna, and I’m still kicking myself for not having done it sooner!

I love doing Hot Detox Yoga and Hot Chakra in the infrared saunas at SOL SPA for detox, calorie burning, and meditation purposes but it wasn’t the first thing I thought of for this discomfort. Turns out it should have been. While I have to skip some postures in the yoga sessions at the moment, just being in the sauna for the yoga session and relaxing my body & mind afterwards during Hot Chakra has worked wonders. This is because infrared heat reduces inflammation and enhances the healing process. Unlike regular heat sources, such as heating pads or hot water bottles, which mainly warm the skin's surface, infrared heat has the ability to penetrate several inches into the body. This deep heat penetration is what sets it apart and makes it particularly effective in addressing muscle injuries. Muscle spasms are often caused by involuntary contractions or tightness in the affected muscles, and infrared heat therapy can help relax these muscles, relieving spasms and reducing the associated discomfort.

Infrared heat also helps to dilate blood vessels, promoting better circulation to the injured area. Improved blood flow delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, facilitating the removal of waste products and accelerating the healing process. The heat generated by infrared therapy also stimulates sensory receptors in the skin, blocking pain signals and providing relief.

My recent visits to SOL SPA for my infrared sauna sessions have resulted in fast, significant relief for aiding in the recovery of my pulled muscle and relieving muscle spasms. By enhancing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and promoting muscle relaxation, it offers a non-invasive and drug-free approach to alleviate pain and facilitate healing. The best part is that SOL SPA’s 24 hour access allows me to squeeze in a session any time day or night. My only complaint is that I hadn’t thought of this sooner!

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Written By: Paige Stuart, VP of Spa Operations